North-south Lake Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Reopens May 15, 2026. Reservations can be made up to 9 months in advance via ReserveAmerica.

About

North-South Lake Campground is the largest and most popular state campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, offering 219 tent and trailer sites distributed across seven camping loops. Perched at the eastern edge of the Catskill Escarpment at approximately 2,250 feet elevation, the campground provides extraordinary scenic beauty and serves as a gateway to some of the region's most spectacular natural and historical attractions. The campground features two pristine mountain lakes with designated swimming beaches, boat launches for non-motorized watercraft, and boat rentals including rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. The surrounding mountains contain numerous hiking trails leading to breathtaking overlooks where five states can be viewed on clear days. Notable destinations include Kaaterskill Falls (the highest waterfall in New York State at 260 feet), the former site of the historic Catskill Mountain House, and scenic viewpoints like Artist's Rock, Sunset Rock, and Newman's Ledge. First developed in 1929 with just 10 sites, the campground has expanded over the decades to its current size. The facility offers modern amenities including flush toilets, hot showers, a trailer dump station, picnic pavilions for rental, playgrounds, and a solar cell phone charging station. The heavily wooded campsites provide tables and fireplaces, creating an ideal base camp just 2.5 hours north of New York City for exploring the storied Catskill Mountains.

Directions

From South: NYS Thruway Exit 20 at Saugerties. Follow Route 32 north 6 miles to Route 32A to Route 23A west. Stay on Route 23A to Haines Falls village. Turn right onto County Route 18, campground entrance is 2 miles at end of road. From North: NYS Thruway Exit 21 at Catskill. Left on Route 23 east to Route 9W south through Catskill to Route 23A. Follow 23A west to Haines Falls, turn right onto County Route 18, follow 2 miles to entrance.

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